Tag: Devotion

It is indeed unfathomable and mind-boggling that a people whom God has given so much privilege would be so far from Him. Today, as we survey the church scene, it is sad to observe for the majority, church life is simply a Sunday routine. I pay my tithe and don’t bother me the rest of the week. There is no desire to serve, no zeal for prayer in this materialistic society. It seemed the only thing that matters is to get ahead for this life. There is little desire for witnessing, little traces of spiritual vitality.

God has not cast away Israel. The Apostle Paul cited himself who trusted in Jesus Christ for his salvation as an example. His conversion is a marvellous example of God’s grace to save the rebellious. He was persecuting the church, incarcerating Christians before Jesus met him on the road to Damascus.

While the Gentiles nations come to acknowledge Israel’s Messiah, Jesus Christ, as Lord and Saviour, Israel remains rebellious and unbelieving. The word “gainsaying” means “contradicting or opposing”. While the Gentile nations put away their idols and have faith in Jesus Christ, Israel remains indifferent and unmoved.

It is interesting to observe through Church History the movement of Holy Spirit in the salvation of Gentile nations reached with the gospel. From Israel, the Apostle Paul brought the gospel to Europe. And the gospel continued to spread to the continents of Africa, America and Asia. Truly, many of the people in Asia were idol worshippers before they received the gospel, putting away their idols. We are seeing this trend continuing today. God is opening the spiritual eyes of those who have no link with Israel’s Messiah, Jesus Christ. Thank God for His mercy that the gospel is carried by Gentile missionaries to Gentile nations steeped in idolatry.

Israel is precious in the sight of God. God created and chosen Israel to bear His name out of all the nations of the world. Israel was the apple of His eye. The privileges given to Israel were tremendous. They had God so nigh to them. Yet, they forsook their God by going after strange gods. This is Israel’s history. Time and again they rejected their God.

The Apostle Paul’s conscience is very clear that his heart was for the conversion of the Jews. Into every city the Lord directed him, he would first preach the gospel in the Jewish synagogue. When the Jews reject the gospel, he would then preach to the Gentiles. He saw that many of the Jews were not ready to receive Christ Jesus for they went about to establish their own righteousness (Rom. 10:3) although the Word of God has been sounded forth throughout the Roman Empire.

The object of the Christian’s faith is Jesus Christ. Whosoever believeth in Him shall not be ashamed but be saved. This faith to believe comes from hearing the Word of God. We need to hear the voice of God speaking to us through His Word. When we hear God’s Word, we get to know God and His Son, therein, we find salvation.